Tues, 11/20/07
Land-o-Lakes, FL: Left Inverness at about 10:00 and arrived at our new destination at about noon and got set up. Went over to Sandy and Dan’s early afternoon and hung out and after dinner started playing Spades. Beautiful day! In the low 80s. We headed back shortly after 11:00 and crashed. I was beat for some reason.
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Mon, 11/19/07
Inverness, FL: Drove up to Micapony which is just south of Gainsville, FL. A cute little “old Florida” town founded back in the 1840s. It was like stepping back in time. A bunch of shops and some wonderful old homes. Very small. Bought some books and had lunch at one of the cafes there. On the way back we stopped in Ocala to see if we could get into the Princess Diana exhibit at the Appleton Art Museum, but it was close on Monday. Bought some things we’ll need for Thanksgiving dinner at Sandy’s and back home. A nice day. In the upper 70s.
Inverness, FL: Drove up to Micapony which is just south of Gainsville, FL. A cute little “old Florida” town founded back in the 1840s. It was like stepping back in time. A bunch of shops and some wonderful old homes. Very small. Bought some books and had lunch at one of the cafes there. On the way back we stopped in Ocala to see if we could get into the Princess Diana exhibit at the Appleton Art Museum, but it was close on Monday. Bought some things we’ll need for Thanksgiving dinner at Sandy’s and back home. A nice day. In the upper 70s.
Sun, 11/18/07
Inverness, FL: Hung around the campsite all day. Went for a walk and did some laundry. Laid out in the sun and read my book. Went to dinner at the Fisherman Restaurant which is just a quarter of a mile from the campground. Real cute place. I had steak and lobster. Mike had pork chops. Ate out on the patio.
Inverness, FL: Hung around the campsite all day. Went for a walk and did some laundry. Laid out in the sun and read my book. Went to dinner at the Fisherman Restaurant which is just a quarter of a mile from the campground. Real cute place. I had steak and lobster. Mike had pork chops. Ate out on the patio.
Sat, 11/17/07
Inverness, FL: Left Manatee Springs this morning at about 10:30 and arrived at the Riverside Lodge Campground at around noon. Really cold again this morning. Very pretty drive down Rt. 41. Riverside Lodge is about 6 miles east of Inverness, FL. The campground is very nice. There are a lot of “permanent” units in here—mostly park models and some RVs. The pace is clean, well kept and very pretty—situated right on the Wilthlacoochee River. We’re right on the water—great view everywhere you look. Nothing but air boats going back and forth on the river. Wonder if that’s all that’s allowed? Would be great for the manatees. Lots of herons around and even a couple of river otters. Beautiful place really. We will definitely come back here. And, Inverness looks interesting. They have an old, historic district which we will be checking out.
Inverness, FL: Left Manatee Springs this morning at about 10:30 and arrived at the Riverside Lodge Campground at around noon. Really cold again this morning. Very pretty drive down Rt. 41. Riverside Lodge is about 6 miles east of Inverness, FL. The campground is very nice. There are a lot of “permanent” units in here—mostly park models and some RVs. The pace is clean, well kept and very pretty—situated right on the Wilthlacoochee River. We’re right on the water—great view everywhere you look. Nothing but air boats going back and forth on the river. Wonder if that’s all that’s allowed? Would be great for the manatees. Lots of herons around and even a couple of river otters. Beautiful place really. We will definitely come back here. And, Inverness looks interesting. They have an old, historic district which we will be checking out.
Fri, 11/16/07
Manatee Springs SP: Very cold this morning. Sat around the camp fire until late morning and then walked down to the river to see the manatees. There are over a dozen in the area, but we only saw 6. The geological survey guy was there again this morning. An interesting guy. After a group of 12 something kids came thundering down the boardwalk to the observation deck, most of us left. They were there on a field trip. No control at all. So, we went walking some of the trails in the park. Guess there are 8 miles of trails here—we only did about 2 miles. Saw a couple of HUGE spiders—orb weavers. One’s web was very high up, but the other, bigger spider’s web was very low. The spider was at eye level. A huge thing. I made sure Mike was in front after that. Left-overs for dinner. Started putting stuff away since we leave tomorrow morning for Inverness, FL. Only a two-hour drive or so. Supposed to be even colder tonight—20s. Jeeze…
Manatee Springs SP: Very cold this morning. Sat around the camp fire until late morning and then walked down to the river to see the manatees. There are over a dozen in the area, but we only saw 6. The geological survey guy was there again this morning. An interesting guy. After a group of 12 something kids came thundering down the boardwalk to the observation deck, most of us left. They were there on a field trip. No control at all. So, we went walking some of the trails in the park. Guess there are 8 miles of trails here—we only did about 2 miles. Saw a couple of HUGE spiders—orb weavers. One’s web was very high up, but the other, bigger spider’s web was very low. The spider was at eye level. A huge thing. I made sure Mike was in front after that. Left-overs for dinner. Started putting stuff away since we leave tomorrow morning for Inverness, FL. Only a two-hour drive or so. Supposed to be even colder tonight—20s. Jeeze…
Thu, 11/15/07
Manatee Springs SP: Sunny for a while this morning. Walked down to see the manatees. Was hard to see them because the breeze was rippling the water. There were a few where the spring run flows into the Suwannee River. Went into Chiefland and did the laundry, bought groceries, had lunch and I got my hair cut Came back and put everything away. Rained a little bit and cleared off by late afternoon. Wish I was braver because we can swim in the spring—even if there are manatees in there. We have our wet suits, but it would be pretty cold. The spring is 72 degrees year around, but to me that’s cold. There are a couple of older women who swim in the spring every morning—and no wet suits. Brrrrrrr. Tomorrow will be our last chance since we leave on Saturday for Inverness, FL. Supposed to be cold (30s) tonight and tomorrow night, but warming up pretty quickly. I’m sure the manatees will be in the spring tonight to seek warmer water. Will we do it or not?
Manatee Springs SP: Sunny for a while this morning. Walked down to see the manatees. Was hard to see them because the breeze was rippling the water. There were a few where the spring run flows into the Suwannee River. Went into Chiefland and did the laundry, bought groceries, had lunch and I got my hair cut Came back and put everything away. Rained a little bit and cleared off by late afternoon. Wish I was braver because we can swim in the spring—even if there are manatees in there. We have our wet suits, but it would be pretty cold. The spring is 72 degrees year around, but to me that’s cold. There are a couple of older women who swim in the spring every morning—and no wet suits. Brrrrrrr. Tomorrow will be our last chance since we leave on Saturday for Inverness, FL. Supposed to be cold (30s) tonight and tomorrow night, but warming up pretty quickly. I’m sure the manatees will be in the spring tonight to seek warmer water. Will we do it or not?
Wed, 11/14/07
Manatee Springs SP: Had a camp fire again this morning. Talked with our neighbors for a while and then we walked down to the river to see the manatees. There were only 4 manatees this morning. Watched them for over an hour and got talking to a couple who are also camped here who are from Massachusetts. They have been to Mexico a few times and we asked them a bunch of questions. Makes me want to go even more. They left and we got talking to a guy there who has this neat canoe with a contraption that sits on the gunwales and has a couple of outriggers, a place for a small electric motor, and a couple of rowing oars so you can row the thing instead of paddle. Turns out he was from the US geological survey counting manatees and checking out the ones that may be injured or sick. We also ran into a naturalist on our way down to the river who was in snorkeling and checking out the manatees. There was an injured manatee in the group yesterday which they had reported so I guess that’s why all the activity. Walked back to our campsite and got comfortable with our books and a car pulled up and it was the couple we were talking to from Massachusetts who had been to Mexico several times. They brought a map of Mexico showing where they’d been and they had a bunch of business cards from the campgrounds they had stayed in. So I wrote down a bunch of information and took their e-mail address. Their names are Connie and Don Cooper. Nice people. Steaks and Texas style mashed potatoes for dinner tonight.
Manatee Springs SP: Had a camp fire again this morning. Talked with our neighbors for a while and then we walked down to the river to see the manatees. There were only 4 manatees this morning. Watched them for over an hour and got talking to a couple who are also camped here who are from Massachusetts. They have been to Mexico a few times and we asked them a bunch of questions. Makes me want to go even more. They left and we got talking to a guy there who has this neat canoe with a contraption that sits on the gunwales and has a couple of outriggers, a place for a small electric motor, and a couple of rowing oars so you can row the thing instead of paddle. Turns out he was from the US geological survey counting manatees and checking out the ones that may be injured or sick. We also ran into a naturalist on our way down to the river who was in snorkeling and checking out the manatees. There was an injured manatee in the group yesterday which they had reported so I guess that’s why all the activity. Walked back to our campsite and got comfortable with our books and a car pulled up and it was the couple we were talking to from Massachusetts who had been to Mexico several times. They brought a map of Mexico showing where they’d been and they had a bunch of business cards from the campgrounds they had stayed in. So I wrote down a bunch of information and took their e-mail address. Their names are Connie and Don Cooper. Nice people. Steaks and Texas style mashed potatoes for dinner tonight.
Tue, 11/13/07
Manatee Springs SP: Sat around the fire this morning drinking our smoothies. Then walked down to the Suwannee River to see if there were any manatees. There were at least a dozen! We watched them for a while and met a couple there from Pine Island in No. Ft. Myers. They had been on a road trip for about a week—trying to get away from the heat in Ft. Myers. Back to the campsite and read for a while. Then walked back to the river and watched the manatees some more. One has an injured tail (guess that what you call it). She seems to be ok but they’re going to report it and she’ll be checked out. The water here is crystal clear and you could see lots of fish. And the mullets were jumping. Walked back, cooked dinner and relaxed for the night.
Manatee Springs SP: Sat around the fire this morning drinking our smoothies. Then walked down to the Suwannee River to see if there were any manatees. There were at least a dozen! We watched them for a while and met a couple there from Pine Island in No. Ft. Myers. They had been on a road trip for about a week—trying to get away from the heat in Ft. Myers. Back to the campsite and read for a while. Then walked back to the river and watched the manatees some more. One has an injured tail (guess that what you call it). She seems to be ok but they’re going to report it and she’ll be checked out. The water here is crystal clear and you could see lots of fish. And the mullets were jumping. Walked back, cooked dinner and relaxed for the night.
Mon, 11/12/07
Marianna, FL: Up pretty early and couldn’t wait to leave this place. Didn’t even take a shower. Just put on the same clothes I had on yesterday. We arrived at Manatee Springs State Park at about 3:00. Lost an hour because we’re now in the Eastern time zone (sigh). Pulled into the campground and got set up at our site. No one near us at all. It’s so quiet and peaceful. Supposed to be packed starting this weekend—Thanksgiving and all. Wondered if the deer were still around. Didn’t take long to find out since a deer sauntered into our site right after we set up. Went to Chiefland for dinner and saw a bunch of deer on the way. When we came back we stopped at the spring to see if there any manatees around. The ranger told us there were a bunch in the spring this morning. Guess they come into the spring at night. No manatees, but we saw lots of deer—everywhere. Walked down to the boardwalk to the Suwannee River and there was all this commotion because the vultures were juxtapositioning for roosting places in the trees by the river—hundreds of them. When we got back to our campsite there was a herd of deer behind our camper. They’re everywhere! It’s great!
Marianna, FL: Up pretty early and couldn’t wait to leave this place. Didn’t even take a shower. Just put on the same clothes I had on yesterday. We arrived at Manatee Springs State Park at about 3:00. Lost an hour because we’re now in the Eastern time zone (sigh). Pulled into the campground and got set up at our site. No one near us at all. It’s so quiet and peaceful. Supposed to be packed starting this weekend—Thanksgiving and all. Wondered if the deer were still around. Didn’t take long to find out since a deer sauntered into our site right after we set up. Went to Chiefland for dinner and saw a bunch of deer on the way. When we came back we stopped at the spring to see if there any manatees around. The ranger told us there were a bunch in the spring this morning. Guess they come into the spring at night. No manatees, but we saw lots of deer—everywhere. Walked down to the boardwalk to the Suwannee River and there was all this commotion because the vultures were juxtapositioning for roosting places in the trees by the river—hundreds of them. When we got back to our campsite there was a herd of deer behind our camper. They’re everywhere! It’s great!
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